BATTLE OF THE HOT SHOTS

Shankland and Dobbie set to square off in Somerset thriller

Scotland’s hottest strikers are being tipped to stage their own fireworks at Somerset Park this Saturday.

Lawrence Shankland and Stephen Dobbie go head to head in a mouthwatering contest.

The pair, who have smashed an incredible 46 goals between them this season, lock horns as Ayr take on Queen of the South.

United boss, Ian McCall, admitted: “The fans are in for a treat.”

Ayr will look to exact revenge on Queens following a 5- 0 thumping in Dumfries back in September.

Since then, United have gone on a glory run with just one defeat at Ross County and now sit three points clear at the summit.

McCall said: “It’s not a case of owing Queens as such.

“So many things went wrong that day that we just had to write it off.

“Dobbie ripped us apart that day, which he is liable to do at anytime, but we have responded in the right manner.

“The players have been nothing short of magnificent since then.

“A lot of the focus will be on Lawrence and Stephen and understandably so.

“I’ve managed them both and they each have different qualities.

“The thought of them playing together in the same team would be thrilling for a manager.”

Shankland played through illness at Falkirk on Saturday as Ayr rattled off their third win in a week to forge clear at the top.

And McCall reckons the win answered plenty of questions from doubters who claim Ayr’s early season form is a flash in the pan.

He said: “We’re now a third of the way through the season and sit three points clear.

“The challenge is to replicate that during the middle part of the season.

“If we can do that, then it will be time to re- assess our aims.”

On the Falkirk win, he said: “It was especially pleasing because of the way we dug it out.

“Lawrence probably shouldn’t have played but it shows you the type of boy he is.

“He’d been sick all night but ate a slice of toast and banana and gave us his all.

“And the rest of the boys proved yet again what a fantastic squad we have at the moment.”

United will be at full strength this Saturday and McCall admits that leaves him with yet more headaches.

He said: “I have two or three unbelievable decisions to make.”